128 – Making excuses is the easy part

Life is a process. We are a process. The universe is a process.
— Anne Wilson Schaef

Reflecting on the past year, as we begin a new one, is an important process although it is not always a productive one. All to often we focus on what didn’t work or what we didn’t achieve and we tend to automatically come up with excuses to justify why this happened. Imagine what it would be like if all we focused on was what we did achieve and how that makes us feel.

Excuses are a way of us being dishonest with ourselves and very often we use them to hide behind – to explain why we changed our minds, why we didn’t try harder, why we chose to give up on something, why we couldn’t be bothered taking action or bringing about change, and so on.

Life is full of challenges. In fact every day is a challenge all on its own. Things not going according to plan is pretty normal. Our reaction to these ongoing life and work challenges can be to do nothing and come up with an excuse or we can … change our plans … try something different … take some kind of action that will get uscloser to where we want to be … or decide enough is enough without an excuse, just make a decision and stick by it.

This Nike “No Excuses” advertisement certainly made me stop and think about the excuses I make for not achieving my goals and dreams. The obstacles will always be there but so are the opportunities. The way we view everything makes such a difference to the way we live our lives.

Manifesto
08. Every day choose to bring about change.
23. Every day retain your personal power. It belongs to you. No one else.
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.